They lived in New York through the Civil War in 1861, in which Holly and Artemis magically helped blacks get through to the North on the Underground Railroad. The country was in such ruins after the war Artemis and Holly deemed it safe to return to England… they had, after all, been gone about two centuries… and opened up a small pharmacy in London in 1900. This was short-lived however, when the pharmacy was bombed in 1915. They then went to Russia till the communists took over during World War II, since Holly decided that she couldn’t stay in the same country with such murderers.
“I agree,” Artemis concurred, remembering all the innocents Lenin had killed to stay in power. He did not want to happen to be one of those innocents.
They spent the next few years in Egypt.
“Our languages are so similar,” Holly breathed, taking in the wonderous hyroglyphics.
“You know what, I might come back here one day as an interpreter.” Artemis mused, smiling a bit as Holly pulled on his hand to go another way. “I could probably translate what they couldn’t using Gnommish.”

“It’s almost time to go back to Ireland,” Artemis announced on hot day in 1980 over lemonade. “In twenty years, our long adventure will be over, and life can return to normal.” Holly smiled smally.
“Normal, Artemis? We’ve lived longer now than most fairies I know. And exprienced most human history first hand.”
“you’re right, of course. I should write a book.” He leaned back. “Tell you the truth, I’ll miss it. Being a time traveller makes life more exciting, challenging. I won’t be able to just a history book anymore, I’ll have memories to go with it.” Holly inspected her friend closely. He looked only about eighteen, but his eyes held the knowledge of centuries openly and heavily. She would be glad when their ordeal was over, but…
“I’ll miss you, Artemis.” She said abruptly, then looked at her lap. Artemis leaned forward, concerned.
“Why, Holly? I won’t be going anywhere.”
“But we won’t be together like we have been, Artemis. Over the centuries,
I’ve–” she punched his shoulder playfully. “– don’t go gettig a bg head, but I’ve come to really like travelling with you. You’ve grown for the better, and saved my life more than once. You’re more than a friend to me. you’re more like a,a–”
“Partner?” Artemis suggested politely, smiling faintly at the memory of their Wild West adventures. Holly smiled too.
“Yeah, a partner. Exactly.” Artemis steepled his fingers and brooded a few moments. He felt the same way. A dependence on the section 8 officer that had built up over the decades. “Tell you what,” he said finally. Holly looked up abruptly, past the ballcap she had to consistly wear to cover her telltale ears, to meet his deep eyes. such wisdom now, in those eyes. “Why don’t we go on a cruise? Something to remember this journey by. A perfect ending..” He smiled at the cliche, and Holly mirrored his smile, still staring into his eyes. “.. to the perfect partnership.” Holly smiled wider as the meaning of the words sunk in.
“It’s a date.”

Some other stories by iesnoth:

• STORYLINE CONTEST!!!!
• Artemis Fowl: the forgotten times